Bucking Bronco 

Edward Borein's ‘Bucking Bronco’ captures a moment of high-octane drama through the traditional printmaking process of etching. The artist would have laboriously drawn his design onto a metal plate covered with wax, before bathing it in acid. This eats away at the exposed lines, creating grooves that hold the ink. The resulting print vividly captures the energy of the Wild West. The stark contrast between the ink and paper emphasizes the powerful musculature of the horse and the cowboy's desperate grip. You can almost feel the tension in the scene, hear the thundering hooves, and the cowboy's shout. The image is not just about the skill of riding, but also hints at the labor and grit involved in ranching. Borein was not just an artist; he was deeply immersed in the culture he depicted. His mastery of etching allowed him to translate that lived experience into a powerful and evocative image. It serves as a reminder that even in seemingly simple prints, the materials, making, and the artist's lived context are keys to unlocking the artwork's full meaning.